Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Irish Must Make Strong Push for Davonte Neal

National Signing Day is on the horizon and Notre Dame's class is just about complete. One player the Fighting Irish must make one last push to sign is athlete Davonte Neal. He would provide a gigantic last-minute boost to the incoming recruit list.

Neal can play on either side of the ball as a wide receiver or cornerback, but Rivals lists him as a 4-star wideout for now. With the departure of Michael Floyd, Notre Dame certainly needs to add some depth at the position.

Adding an immediate impact player like Neal to go along with Deontay Greenberry and others would help lessen the blow of losing Floyd to the NFL.

It's also important for the school's reputation. Notre Dame has always been one of the premier destinations for recruits. The team on the field hasn't been nearly as effective in recent seasons, however, which could leave future prospects to look elsewhere.

The Irish need to keep bringing in high-profile names, like Gunner Kiel and Neal, to prove they are still an elite college choice for players looking to advance to the next level eventually.

Recruiting has many factors. One of them is carryover. If one of next season's top names watches Neal select Notre Dame on Wednesday, that could sway his decision toward the Irish for next season.

It's a continuous cycle that keeps coaches on their toes each and every season because one bad year has the potential to turn the tide. It's something the Irish have been able to fight off despite inconsistent results.

That's why making that final push for Neal is key. Aside from his lightning quickness and playmaking ability on the field, he sets Notre Dame up for another strong recruiting season next fall.

There's only one day to finish the job, which means the pressure is on Brian Kelly and Co. to get it done.